The president said he would not pretend “that today marks the end of our economic problems.”

“Nor does it constitute all of what we have to do to turn our economy around,” Mr. Obama said at the signing ceremony in the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. “But today does mark the beginning of the end, the beginning of what we need to do to create jobs for Americans scrambling in the way of playoffs.

Unfortunately, every time we have tried this sort of big government approach – in the 1930s or 1960s – it has always led to the same result: economic malaise. After two years of Democrat control of Congress, we’ve seen what happens when our elected leaders declare war on capitalism. I would think that we had learned from the demise of the USSR that big government is a mistake. Now, the folks who bet that Obama was a secret centerist will see the consequences of their vote.

A little factoid that hasn’t been reported on: this bill contains a $282 billion dollar tax cut, one of the largest in history. There’s a reason Republicans didn’t support this bill, TR, and it has nothing to do with principle or sound theory. It’s obstructionist politics and a cynical gamble that ties the fortunes of the Republican party to the failure of the nation. And what modern president doesn’t sign major legislation without fanfare? At least Obama is leaving himself some breathing space – no MISSION ACCOMPLISHED banners here.

I know that I have tried to point out the Obama administrations inconsistancies but I am an American first and foremost (and a Democrat) so I will wish the President the best of luck and I sincerely hope that this works.

The reason most Republicans are disturbed by this law is the same reason they are disturbed by scientific discovery. They cannot get their minds around how it is going to make them or their minders money in the next quarter.

Complex systems require constant tweaking based on skilled analysis of response to stimuli. Doing nothing results in instability of the system from non-determinant “noise”.

The GOP believes in overly-simplified, one-size-fits-all, set-it-and-leave-it solutions with no regard to system analysis and feedback.

The GOP is truly a self-marginalized party of centuries gone by and “simpler” times; wholly unready for real-time complexities of the 21st century.

The current US government economic stimulation plan is to print up a bunch of new paper money, T-Bills, Bonds, and other similar paper securities for bank deposit to cover checks issued to US contractors to re-build and expand the US contractors to re-build and expand the US infrastructure (Pork Barrel Projects) in order to reduce unemployment. (also cash bonuses to the Wall Street forgers). This money will probably be spent on imported earth-moving machinery, imported materials (Steel, equipment, Pipe & Wire), new imported private airplanes, illegal alien labor, outsourced engineering, outsourced CAD drafting, etc., and the US workers will still be mostly unemployed? Foreign suppliers will accept these freshly printed dollars that they earned in exchange for their products that they manufactured to purchase title to real estate, forests, industries, breweries, hotels, factories, casinos, financial institutions and title to everything else of value that is located in the USA. This is sort-of like selling our body parts to keep from working!!!!! Any Economic Stimulus Spending also needs to prohibit any imported products (even if we no longer manufacture those products) from being purchased with these funds, and also prohibit all outsourcing of the Labor Required. This is probably necessary at this time, even if it will cause massive inflation to the point that it takes a whole day’s wages to buy one loaf of bread. This might only be good economically for salesmen of foreign equipment, materials, etc., and other people working in the distribution of imported things for our consumption, but the balance of trade will still be sending US dollars overseas to pay for the things that we import. These dollars that we use to pay for our imports are like gold and/or title to our finitely limited US assets that are now disappearing.

“Nonfarm payroll employment fell sharply in January (-598,000)(BLS)” or 19,200 daily. That approximates 57,600 jobs lost between the Friday passage and the president’s signature today, if January trends are continuing into February. Does this bother anyone? I do hope this bill was worth waiting for.

The stimulus bill is a start and there will mist likely be another one down the road. The damage done over the past ten years has been huge. Overzealous spending, large tax cuts, fighting too many wars and lack of oversight. The same things the GOP is harping on; are the same things they did over the past ten years. Now, they are fiscal conservatives; but, where were the fiscal conservatives from 1999 – 2006?
Where were the complaints about mortgaging the future to our children and grandchildren; while they were doing it? The GOP sounds like they were conservative with spending, shrunk the government and reduced government waste; but, that is what they were doing for years.

In 1994, America accepted snake oil called the “Contract with America”. 15 years later, the “Contract with America” really was a contract between the GOP and the wealthy. The wealthy was able to take advantage of lack of government oversight and stripped this country clean. Leaving in their wake a $10 trillion debt.

Sure, people in this country are concerned about the large national debt. But, while trillions were flowing out of this country, the GOP and wealthy were laughing all the way to their Cayman Island or Swiss Bank.

The efforts of these so called fiscal conservatives has brought the world to the brink of a depression. The GOP was responsible for the first depression and now they have bettered themselves with a second one.

So, go ahead John D, Ann, TR, et. al., have your fun. The more the GOP tries to remake themselves as fiscal conservatives, the more that people in this country are turning away from the GOP in droves. We are tired of the lies, deceit and the “me first” philosophy that the GOP represents. And what is the GOP doing? Well, instead of trying to move this country forward, they are sitting there tearing down President Obama and the Democrats. Yep, this is a great strategy. While I do not agree wirh the Democrats either; at least we can see something changing in regards to the largest redistribution of wealth, fraud, and malfeasance in American history.

I don’t think Pres. Obama is insincere in his desire to affect political change and ignite consumer confidence to move middle class Americans (the greatest section of American population burdened by excessive taxation) to spend..However, I do think his inexperience, the naive nature of his personality and the protected, ivory tower existence he and his family now enjoy, makes him oblivious to the real life existence of those of us carrying the burden of job loss, benefits loss, insurmountable debt, victims of predatory lenders in ‘sub prime markets’ (Wells Fargo in my case) and the now trillion dollar losses in property and home value..WE who pay our bills, we who do not walk away from debt, we who feed our kids even if it means 2 3 or 4 jobs at all hours of the day and night- bear the burden of every economic nightmare occurring in the US now..All brought on by the very corporations, executives, bankers, politically and financially foreign AND domestic oil producers..Don’t tell me about health care reform..I’ve been a registered nurse over 24 years. I see on a regular basis what needs done..I saw it 15 years ago..I tried through studies, surveys, and direct communication to tell my own health care executives what part of the health care system in my own part of the system failed…My communication fell on deaf but retaliatory ears…I was right, they were wrong..But without a nursing union like that of Major League Baseball, nurses like me can expect nothing to change except our wages and benefits and job security. myself and nurses like me cannot make change happen in health care without our voices being heard..We are politically and financially stifled and strangled by our boards, executives (both hospital and insurance) and physicians..Lobbies of which the likes nursing has never seen on “the Hill”..Where are those of you who remember having a nurse more competent and aware of your condition and changes than your doctor?..Where are those of you whose family member was rescued in the field by a nurse where physicians would never tread?..speak now, we have no voice in Arizona or Washington DC…

While not perfect, it’s a start and sends a much-needed message that the government is doing something. The Rebulicans in congress may be against the stimulus plan but the Republican governors and mayors have been begging for this help since last year. The Republicans in WDC are just out of touch. (Let’s remember that it was the Republican administration and congress fighting California’s Republican governor on tightening emissions regulations.) My guess is, Republican governors who supported the stimulus plan will have an easier time getting re-elected to office than will the Republican members of congress who voted against federal intervention. The tax cuts may not be huge, but extending and subsidizing COBRA, extending unemployment, and other measures – on top of the SChip bill a few weeks ago – will go a long way toward improving people’s attitudes. Mr. Graham had it wrong – the recession is real, not mental. But there is a mental component that Mr. Obama understands: the right frame of mind can help tremendously: first, understand that this will not be easily fixed, and second, you’re not on your own.

The media castigated business executives for using company jets and luxury resorts for business “retreats”.

Nobody has done the same to the Democrats and Republicans in Congress when each had it’s high priced caucus sessions at luxury resorts. Nor has the media commented, nor even noticed, when President Obama and Vice-President Biden jet off to Denver for the signing of the “Stimulus” bill.

If it’s good for the goose, it should be good for the gander. Does our ruling class admonish us: do what they say, not what they do?

The business executives should have been and were called to task. Now let us call to task those whose pensions, health care, and salaries will never be in jeopardy.

I do not expect the President to fly commercial, but I do expect less traveling costs. If a train was good enough to get to Washingon, why not to Denver? Or even less expensive, is everybody in Washington technically challenge? What about of video conferencing?

Those who lead whether they be in Congress or the White House should lead by example. Those in Washington, Rs and Ds alike, have to get their acts together and suck it up.

Sorry Ms Speaker, Mr. V-P and Mr. President and members of Congress, this means you too!

The term “echo chamber” takes on new meaning with some of the preening narcissistic right wing dead enders above who seem so impressed with themselves that they can’t help coming back again and again to say the same thing! Someone should tell them that they’re no more convincing the 5th time than they were the first. And with their ludicrous record of the past eight years, they really don’t have the credibility to lecture us about how to dig ourselves out of the hole their heros put us in while they stood by cheering.

Hoover Dam, must be assumed was created by President Herbert Hoover. During the 8 years of the Eisenhower Administration, the inter-state freeways were constructed. Presidents are not noted for job creation or industrial expansion, although they like to take credit for it when it happens.

The Stimulus Bill is needed…what we don’t need is President Obama constantly ,almost predicting that things will get worse…to what end?

It seems the American people, the business community, and the Stock Market are pulling back from any positive move they may make financially, because of Mr. Obama’s comments.

At some point in time, the private sector must do what it always has done in the past, with confidence and bold moves as Americans…work thru the economic mess we are in.

To wait for Obama’s plans to kick in…might be too late…to the point of no return, of the America we once knew.

Of course there may be the need for more money at some critical time in the future. Or then again, perhaps all this will be fine. Who knows? Unless anyone has a perfect crystal ball for forecasting the economy, it is wiser to mention the possibility of future needs than to say “That’s it!” and then have to go back on that later. President Obama is not PROMISING more tax needs, he’s just saying the future is uncertain. By the way, to those of you who believe that tax cuts are the best/only way to help the economy, please consider this: If our (true) unemployment rate reaches into the double digits, how are tax cuts going to help all the millions of Americans who have no jobs? Creating jobs is not wasteful spending–it is the most direct way of helping all those unemployed people NOW.

So, they are giving a 8,000 tax brake to anyone who buys a house. But if you make over 75,000, and are single, you are out of luck. What if you make 95,000, never bought a house before and live in a state where prices are JUST now coming back down to reality. (They still have a way to go) Where I live 95,000 a year is not rich. Yet for years I saw people making less than me buying homes and building their debt. I knew what I could afford and chose instead to rent. Who in Washington is looking out for us folks who never bit off too much?? The whole system is screwed up.

President Obama drew criticism on Thursday when he said, “we don’t have a strategy yet,” for military action against ISIS in Syria. Lawmakers will weigh in on Mr. Obama’s comments on the Sunday shows.Read more…